Traverse the Taiga with the Benefits of Siberian Fir Essential Oil (Updated April 2020)

Every drop of fir essential oil is compacted with benefits that can help you fight respiratory problems, muscle aches, sore throat, and more. The oil is extracted from fir needles by the standard process of steam distillation, and it carries with it the fragrance of pine wood. Though it might be unpopular with the modern-day consumer, fir essential oil has actually been used in Ayurvedic medicine for ages.

With Aroma Foundry, you can have pure and authentic fir essential oil imported from Siberia. We go out of our way to search for the most reliable producers of essential oils to bring their benefits closer to you.

Fir Essential Oil

We did a side-by-side comparison with two of the world's biggest essential oil brands.

essential oil brands comparison

The History of Fir Essential Oil

Here are a few interesting facts about fir trees and the essential oil derived from them:

  1. Ancient Egyptians valued fir oil very highly, using it on their scalp to maintain its health and improve hair growth.
  2. Native Americans believed that sleeping on pillows packed with fir needles could help them attain better sleep. These needles and other parts of the tree were also burned as a sudatory for women right after they’d given birth.
  3. The resin from fir trees can be used to make turpentine. And it’s not just for paint—turpentine has been used for centuries to disinfect wounds and help them heal faster. Turpentine was (and can still be) used to help treat head lice, and it is an active ingredient in chest rubs.
  4. The needle-like leaves of fir trees can be used to make an herbal tea that is high in vitamin C. Simply boil a spoonful of needles in a cup of water for 10 minutes and you’ll have yourself a healthy and tasty drink.

These and its other benefits are undeniable, which is why despite its relative obscurity, fir essential oil is still around, being used by people who understand just how greatly it can affect a person’s health and way of life.

Currently, the prime producers of fir essential oil are Germany, France, and Bulgaria—partly because these countries have a large number of forests and partly because the demand for this essential oil is higher in those parts than anywhere else. 

However, fir trees are also abundant throughout North America, Central America, Asia, other parts of Europe, and North Africa, particularly in mountainous regions.

 

The Composition of Fir Essential Oil

Aroma Foundry’s fir essential oil is made from A. siberica, also known as Siberian fir. It is indigenous to Russia and Canada, and the fresh scent produced from its strongly aromatic leaves is less citrus-y and more woody than other types. What, however, makes Siberian fir different from the others?

Strictly speaking, all types of essential oils distilled from fir have the same chemical compositions with no major variations—it’s the concentrations of these chemicals that set fir trees apart from each other.

The following are just some of the chemical compounds that can be found in higher quantities in Siberian fir essential oil:

Bornyl acetate

Compared to white fir, Siberian fir contains over twice the amount of bornyl acetate. Bornyl acetate is an analgesic with a highly effective anti-inflammatory property. With its antiperspirant property, it can also work well as a deodorant.

Camphene

Camphene has an impressive list of therapeutic uses, which includes antifungal, antioxidant, analgesic, antibiotic, and cytotoxic properties.

As an antifungal, it can be used to help treat infections like athlete’s foot, dermatitis, and other fungal skin infections. Antioxidants in general help protect against free radicals while also repairing damage caused by stress, and camphene works together with vitamin C (which fir is also rich in) to soothe nerves, which may result in reduced blood pressure and inflammation. Its cytotoxicity means that it has great potential when it comes to helping fight cancer.

Alpha-pinene

Another chemical that Siberian fir essential oil is richer in is alpha-pinene. Since ancient times, this compound has been sought after in order to ease respiratory ailments, such as airway congestion. Collected from tree resins, alpha-pinene has also been used to fight parasitic infections both externally and internally. When added to agents like animal fat or beeswax, it can be used as both an antibacterial salve and an analgesic balm.

Delta-3-carene

Fir essential oil owes its relaxing effects to the rich presence of delta-3-carene. It has sedative effects and therefore helps facilitate the slowing down of the brain function. It is also an antihistamine that could put a stopper to the excessive production of sweat and other fluids from the nose, mouth, and eyes.

 

Uses and Benefits of Fir Essential Oil

Fir essential oil can potentially offer quick relief from pain, detoxify the body, and improve the metabolism—and there’s definitely a lot more where that came from. We’re here to look at some of what the oil has to offer, as well as the uses it could be put to.

 

1. Warding against infection

Fir essential oil has both antibacterial and antimicrobial properties due to the presence of compounds like tricyclene, alpha-pinene, limonene, camphene, and myrcene. These compounds allow the oil to fight against any type of bacteria and therefore help prevent infections from occurring.

Among other things, this oil would make a good addition to your first aid kit. Just remember to dilute it with equal parts water first, or mix it with a carrier agent like beeswax.

 

2. Diffusing for aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is often mentioned in the same breath as essential oils. Though overlooked, fir essential oil is not any less beneficial in this regard than other kinds of oil. For city dwellers whose hectic daily life prevents them from getting out of the concrete jungle once in a while to visit nature, the scent of fresh pine forests might just be the perfect substitute.

Just pop a few drops into your diffuser and allow it to help you relax, release your tension, and renew your energy. The key is to open yourself up to being rejuvenated!

 

3. Relieving pain and aches

Few people can tolerate being in pain, and even fewer would enjoy it. If you’re a chronic sufferer of aches and soreness, even falling asleep might be a challenge, and you might not be getting the rest you need even if you do manage to get some snooze, making you tired as soon as you wake up. Yes, you can bust out your bottle of over-the-counter painkillers whenever you think you can’t take it anymore, but you’ll be risking overdependence, and increased tolerance.

Fortunately, there are alternatives. To help get rid of persistent muscle aches, just mix in several drops of fir essential oil with massage oil and rub over the afflicted areas, making sure to work in the mixture so it could reach the deepest layer of flesh. You can expect to feel better as soon as you inhale this essential oil’s scent, and once it does its job on your muscle pain too, a good, restful sleep won’t just be a dream anymore.

4. Fighting cancer

In a fir essential oil study published in the US National Library of Medicine, the oil was found to be active against cancerous tumors. According to the study, the use of this oil led to a decrease in cellular glutathione content and an increase in reactive oxygen species production. It was concluded that this essential oil has promising properties that could potentially fight cancer.

 

5. Detoxifying the body

Fir essential oil can help you detoxify your body. By stimulating your liver functions and inducing sweat as well as by being a natural diuretic, the oil helps to get rid of toxins and facilitates the body’s cleansing from the inside. Topical application by way of massage, as well as inhalation through diffusion and aromatherapy is effective, are effective and helpful.

6. Boosting metabolism

Fir essential oil acts as a stimulant, helping to make your body more active through increasing the heart rate and the digestive rate. To give you a boost of energy and a well-functioning metabolism, simply mix in fir essential oil with a carrier agent like coconut oil in a 1:1 drop/mL ratio and treat yourself to a full body massage.

 

7. Relieving respiratory issues

If you happen to have a cold, a cough you can’t get rid of, or a sore throat, worry not—fir essential oil is the only solution you’ll need. At least, that’s according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, where it states that fir essential oil can be extremely beneficial in relieving the respiratory issues that crop up with common colds and flu.

All you have to do is to place a few drops of fir essential oil on a diffuser, or add to a carrier oil to use as a rub, and let it work wonders for you. The oil has anti-inflammatory properties which would help ease the soreness in your throat and bronchial area and aid in expelling mucus. Recall that tea made from fir needles is high in vitamin C, so drinking this in conjunction with inhaling fir essence could help speed up recovery even more.

Fir Essential Oil from Fir Needles for Better RespirationFir trees can be distinguished from other conifers by their cylindrical cones that stand like candles rather than hang upside down. Photo Source: Pixabay

8. Deodorizing

We all want to smell good, whether we’re going to a party, to the office for work, or even going home after a day of heavy workout. We all depend on store-bought deodorants that stop us from sweating, but with better and purer alternatives like fir essential oil, why not go natural?

It isn’t just the oil’s fragrance that makes it a great alternative—it has antiperspirant and antibacterial properties that could effectively reduce odor-causing bacteria, all while you walk around all day smelling like pine forests. Just add a few drops into a bottle of water or alcohol and use as a spray, or mix with a carrier oil and apply by rubbing it on the skin.

 

9. Healing broken bones

If you’re dealing with a minor bone fracture (we assume a major one would be in a cast), applying fir essential oil topically on the affected areas up to three times a day can help it knit together, potentially speeding up the healing process. Fir essential oil can also help increase bone density, making it an ideal natural treatment for osteoporosis if it is maintained along with a good diet and regular exercise.

Always remember to dilute essential oils in carriers first before applying it onto your skin.

 

10. And more!

In addition to all of the above, fir essential oil also has these benefits:

    • Helps relieve joint pain and arthritis
    • Helps treat bronchitis and sinusitis
    • Soothes rheumatic symptoms
    • Helps reduce feelings of fatigue
    • Protects the skin from free radical damage

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the ways you could use fir essential oil. We’ll have even more ideas for you ahead, but first, some word of warning.

Pure and All Natural Essential Oils with No Additives

 

Precautions

Always dilute essential oils before direct contact with skin. This precaution isn’t limited to just fir but to essential oils in general—they are highly concentrated by nature and may cause irritations if used in their pure state.

Additionally, carriers ensure that the oil stays longer on your skin. Pure essential oil is volatile and will evaporate quickly when exposed to air.

Carry out a patch test first before any extensive topical use. If there are no adverse effects, you can proceed to apply the diluted oil to your problem areas. Coconut oil is an effective and inexpensive carrier medium that you may use with fir essential oil in a 1:1 ratio.

Essential oils, not just fir oil, typically should not be ingested unless they're labeled to be food grade. Aroma Foundry essential oils are not food grade, and therefore are not recommended for oral ingestion.

Essential Oils

It is also important to note that the various types of fir essential oils are invariably not suitable for regular use. The maximum stretch of time a person may be safely exposed to these oils is two weeks. After that, refrain from further use until after enough time has passed.

To learn more about the safety measures that must be observed with essential oils in general, please consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner.

Avoid getting the oil in your eyes and in other mucous membranes. Keep the oil out of children’s reach at all times. Consult your doctor first before administering essential oils of any kind to a child.

If you are pregnant, use essential oils under the strict guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner as some oils have properties that can induce menstruation. Topical use of essential oils is also inadvisable for lactating mothers.

 

Recipes

Ready to put fir essential oil to its myriad of good uses? We’re also here to assist you with that. The following are several recipes that could help you make the most of fir essential oil’s benefits.

DIY Essential Oil Recipes for Home

House cleaner and deodorizer

Essential oil from fir isn’t just good for protecting your body against odor-causing bacteria, it’s great for disinfecting the air and various surfaces in your home too! This oil works great as a cleaning agent because of its powerful disinfecting properties. Because of its natural, fresh scent, it won’t just leave your living space spick-and-span and germ-free, it will make it smell like a pine forest.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own home cleaner:

    • A gallon of warm water
    • ⅛ cup of white vinegar
    • ¼ cup of lemon juice
    • 8 drops of fir essential oil

Just mix them all together and it will be ready for use.

If you want a dedicated air freshener that evokes the image of woodlands in twilight, you’ll need:

    • 10 drops of fir essential oil
    • 10 drops of cedarwood essential oil
    • 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
    • 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
    • 4 oz of distilled water

Note that you can mix and match the number of drops and/or the essential oil used to create the blend that suits your tastes the most. Mix these ingredients together in a UV-filtering glass spray bottle to ensure your essential oil blend will keep for a long time. Shake before every use and spray any room to get that magical scent.

 

Skin treatment and protection

In addition to having powerful antimicrobial properties, fir essential oil contains a host of other chemicals that offer protection against damage which toxins and other free radicals in the air could cause. Take advantage of this by mixing:

    • 2 drops of fir essential oil
    • 1 mL jojoba oil

Apply to the skin as a serum before going to bed. Topical application of properly diluted fir essential oil may also help facilitate the healing of eczema, acne, psoriasis, and other skin diseases because of its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and astringent functions.

 

Multi-purpose healing balm

We’ve covered how fir essential oil can be useful for easing respiratory issues. We also mentioned that it’s handy to have around if you have wounds or cuts that need disinfecting or if your aching body and tired mind won’t allow you to get some much-needed sleep.

Here’s how you can produce your own all-around salve that works in various ways to help with these diverse issues. You’ll need:

    • 3 tablespoon coconut oil
    • 2 teaspoon beeswax pellets
    • 15-20 drops of fir essential oil
    • A glass salve jar

Instructions:

  1. In a double boiler, melt your beeswax pellets.
  2. After the beeswax is fully melted, add the coagulated coconut oil until it too is melted.
  3. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Add the drops of fir essential oil and mix it in with the help of a hand blender set on high for several seconds or until the resulting mixture is creamy in texture.
  4. Transfer to the glass container and seal tightly. Et voila! You’re done!

Just a few reminders: store the salve properly when not in use. To avoid bacterial contamination, use tissues or cotton swabs when taking a measure.

Check out a variety of essential oils you can use in these recipes here on Aroma Foundry.

 

Summary

fir_essential_oil

There’s little cause to doubt the effectiveness of essential oils when it comes to providing alternative solutions to various health problems, and fir essential oil is no different in this regard. Though lesser-known and often overlooked nowadays (unless Christmas is about to roll around the corner, that is), this oil has been one of the go-to treatments for physical, mental, and spiritual ailments since the time of the Pharaohs.

From helping treat and protect the skin from blemishes and further damage down to offering fast-acting relief from pain, respiratory problems, and infections, fir essential oil definitely deserves its place among the top essential oils available today.

Our version of this oil is made from the highest quality Siberian fir tree, properly sourced and processed to make sure both you and the environment come to no harm. Try out our 100% pure and all-natural fir essential oil and promote better health for your mind, body, and soul.

 

References

  1. Essential Oil. http://ayurvedicoils.com/tag/fir-needle-essential-oil.
  2. "5 Amazing Benefits of Fir Needle Essential Oil." Organic Facts. November 20, 2017. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/fir-needle-essential-oil.html.
  3. "Abies Sibirica." Wikipedia. April 06, 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abies_sibirica.
  4. Deckard, Angela. "7 Fir Needle Essential Oil Uses." Healthy Focus. October 10, 2017. https://healthyfocus.org/7-fir-needle-essential-oil-uses/.
  5. AromaTools Blog. http://blog.aromatools.com/tag/diffuser-blends/.
  6. Kaitlyn. "DoTERRA Siberian Fir Essential Oil - Uses and Benefits." The Prickly Pilot's Wife. October 04, 2017. https://thepricklypilotswife.com/2017/10/siberian-fir-essential-oil-benefits-uses/.
  7. Kudryavtseva, Anna, George Krasnov, Anastasiya Lipatova, et al. "Effects of Abies Sibirica Terpenes on Cancer- and Aging-associated Pathways in Human Cells." Oncotarget. December 13, 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5347801/.
  8. Joe. "Fir Needle Essential Oil - Fight Cancer, Infections & Even Odor." Dr. Axe. June 27, 2017. https://draxe.com/fir-needle-essential-oil/.
  9. "Fir Needle Essential Oil Benefits & How to Heal the Body." DrEricZ.com. February 21, 2018. https://drericz.com/fir-needle-essential-oil-benefits/.
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  1. Background
  2. The History of Fir Essential Oil
  3. The Composition of Fir Essential Oil
  4. Uses and Benefits of Fir Essential Oil
    1. Warding against infection
    2. Diffusing for aromatherapy
    3. Relieving pain and aches
    4. Fighting cancer
    5. Detoxifying the body
    6. Boosting metabolism
    7. Relieving respiratory issues
    8. Deodorizing
    9. Healing broken bones
    10. And more!
  5. Precautions
  6. Recipes
  7. Summary
  8. References